Pick of the Week & In Love with This Song

Ok... I came across this song today and have been listening to it non-stop all day. It would be a great wedding website song, first dance song, or even a great song to propose with! It is the latest song from Train called Marry Me, and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.... Pretty much put me to tears today, but I loved it! 

Here's the link and enjoy. I think my favorite part of the video is the beginning when the couples are telling their love stories. Call me a sap, a romantic, or a nerd... but I loved it!! It's definitely on repeat on my Ipod..

Enjoy!!

Washington Bridal Showcase

Ok we did it! We were one of the booths featured at the Washington Bridal Showcase on January 23rd... And what an experience that was! We met and spoke with hundreds of brides (AND grooms) and we loved every minute of it. After the first hour I really thought my voice wouldn't make it throughout the day. But I powered through it and even though I came out with a bit of a "man voice" it was all worth it!

One important thing that saved us was that we brought a cart to wheel everything to and from the booth! At the end of the day, a woman saw my wheeling a bunch of stuff to the car and she said, "Oh! I should've brought MY radio flyer!" It was so funny, but it was definitely a lifesaver. It beat making many trips to the car, so it was a great idea to bring it.

It was such a wonderful thing to get to meet all these other wedding professionals and meet some really great brides!

It was such a great experience, and I can't wait to do it again, hopefully soon!

Here are some great pictures of our booth and us in action... Enjoy!

Hard at work!

Say What?!? Did Someone Say Contest?

Ok people... Here's the deal! We are giving away a pair of tickets to Sunday's Washington Bridal Showcase!! The expo is taking place at the Patriot Center located at George Mason University from 11:00am - 5:00pm on January 23rd...

So what do you have to do? All you have to do is "LIKE" our Facebook page and comment on this posting and give me your e-mail address. Winner will be chosen at random and I will contact them to get mailing information.

Good luck ladies (and gentlemen)!!!!!!!

Here's our facebook page Sweetface Events - Facebook Page

*no purchase necessary*

Why Use A "Day Of" Coordinator?

All brides have a budget, that's a fact.  Let's get real though, that budget pretty much goes out the window once you find your dream venue, wedding gown, photographer and don't forget that photo booth or black and white checkered dance floor that you just can't live without!  We understand the challenges of trying not to overspend.  At the same time, we know the once in a lifetime chance of having everything that's really important to you make your wedding day truly "YOURS" and unique from the last wedding you went to!

Most brides overlook the importance of hiring a Day Of Coordinator for their wedding simply because they didn't make a budget for it.  With that in mind, most brides can get away with not hiring a coordinator because of the venues they work with.  For example, if you choose any of the big banquet hotel chains, they have an Event Planner on hand to take care of the cocktail and reception details and they will even line your bridal party up for the big intro.

But what about all the millions of details before the reception?  Hiring a Day Of Coordinator not only gives you the peace of mind that you have a hands on advisor in most cases months before your wedding, but it allows you to have less worries from the second you wake up on your big day, until the last box of decor is packed away after the big celebration. 

A Day Of Coordinator is simply your right hand 'behind the scenes' man on your wedding day.  This is the person that will handle all the things you don't want to even think about, as you enjoy every second of your big day.  What bride wants their bridal party or Aunt Martha putting together the last intricate details of their centerpieces?  Who knows all your vendors by name, has your timeline memorized, makes sure the corsages are put on correctly, knows the layout of the reception hall, knows exactly when to change the lighting and has a hands on back up emergency kit just in case your dress rips, or one of your bridesmaids breaks a heel?  Call us J-Lo in the Wedding Planner, but that's exactly what we're equipped for!  We've just replaced J-Lo's head set for our walkie talkies :o) and thank the Lord none of our brides have ripped their dress or had anyone fall in the ceremony (the reception is a whole other story).....!

Some reasons where I believe you MUST have a Day Of Coordinator:

1. Having your wedding at a B&B, winery, or historic landmark: Most of these venues DO  NOT have a planner on site, which means you would have to rely on your caterer and DJ to make everything flow. Do you trust your DJ and caterer enough to handle that job?

2. Having a wedding guest list of 150 or more: Most catering directors rely on their staff to manage sections of the wedding guest seating.  They will be too focused on getting the food out on time and any decor malfunctions or guest seating mix-ups will not be their priority.

3. If you have intricate decor/centerpiece setups: Most florists help with flower centerpieces but they may miss any detail requests on table cards, favors, and any additional decor you have on tables and the around reception hall.  

Overall, your coordinator would make sure you get exactly what you envisioned your "dream day" to be.  Maybe a full time Wedding Coordinator is not in the budget, but don't undermine what a Day Of Coordinator could do...to help make your wedding day run smoothly!

             

Sweetface Events Day Of Coordinator: $$$

Peace of Mind: Priceless!

Wedding Expos: Our Experience and What To Expect

I remember when I was planning my own wedding, the thought of a big show room with thousands of other brides did not sound appealing.  I just knew though that it probably wouldn't hurt to attend one (considering my wedding was only 7 months away and I had nothing!).  So what should you expect at a Wedding Expo?

1. Location: Pick one that's close to your home, no need in driving 40 miles out of your zip code and you are disappointed when you get there.  Most vendors will travel to get in front of local brides and most of the DC area shows are jam packed with almost everything you need under one roof.

2. Don't Go Alone: Bring a family member or member of bridal party - I probably would not have gone myself if I didn't have my sister (MOH) or Mom with me.  (Advice: bring someone that has good taste and will help take the pressure off!) But also, don't bring too many people with you. It is already hectic as it is, and bringing your 10 bridesmaids may just add stress to your already full plate.

3. Cost, Is It Worth It? -paying $10 at the door may sound like a rip off, but there are a ton of highly esteemed vendors on site. The advertisers there are making an investment in the show, which means they are business savvy and are willing to pay lots of money to meet with sophisticated brides like you. Also there are a ton of giveaways if you don't mind giving your email address out. Which brings me to my next point...

4.Register for a separate email account for your wedding research. For example: sarenabakerwedding@gmail.com, after you go to a wedding expo you might be kicking yourself after realizing how many vendors you actually gave your email address to.  This way you can keep track of everything and you won't be inundated with spam or junk mail in your work or home email account. You will be able to keep track of all the vendors that you want to stay in contact with.

5. Dress cute and comfortable.  Bring a bag that you can carry all the paper and hand outs that you get.  Sometimes the Expo bags may not be sturdy enough.  Also bring a camera, just in case you see that "Must Have" item that you can keep record of.

6. Make a list of vendors you want to speak with and don't be afraid to go up and talk to them.  A lot of the time, this can act as your first meeting (this will save you a lot of time in the long run) and the first impression you get tells a lot about their business and product.
7. Last, but not least. Make sure you enjoy yourself while you're there. You only get to plan one wedding, and you have to make the most of your experience in the planning process. Enjoy meeting all the vendors and get all the goodies you can! Get there early, and travel to all the booths you need for your wedding.

If you have any feedback, let us know! What were your experiences at a bridal show and what were the things that you enjoyed/disliked?

Sweetface will be at the Washington Bridal Showcase at the Patriot Center on 01.23.11... Stop by our booth if you're going!

xoxo

Pick of the Week

How about for this week's Pick of the Week we do wedding shoes?

I am a sucker for peep toe heels, preferably with a flower or some sort of detail by the toe. How about a pop of color? We have seen lately those bright pink shoes worn with a beautiful wedding dress, but what about blacks or nudes? Those classic colors won't be going away anytime soon so try adding it as one of the most important accessories on your special day. Here are a few pictures of my faves...

I love mixing and matching traditional wedding gowns with unique and trendy accessories. It's really important to stand out and look like a million bucks on your wedding day. Wearing shoes like this is sure to be a hit, and not to mention, they'll look great in pictures! And it doesn't beat the hours of shoe shopping you'll get to do!

xoxo

It's 2011....

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.  ~Oprah Winfrey

Where has 2010 gone? Well good riddance, I say! Here's to another year gone, and a brand new one to come!

We are so excited for 2011 and we have so much planned for Sweetface! It's all about a fresh start. That's our goal for this year and hopefully we will succeed. This is a great year for Sweetface and I hope that you will be able to share the success that we've worked so hard for. One of our major New Year's resolutions is to continuously make updates to the Sweetface blog. Weddings are my life and my passion, so here's my chance to do what I do best, talk weddings!

Thank you for all the love and support you've given us throughout the last year, and we are so thankful to have you as a follower...

Stay tuned to a fun-filled year of updates and lots of great things about weddings!

xoxo

 

*The Girls of Sweetface*

Rent the.... Wedding Gown? Huh?!

Ever wonder what it would be like to wear that exquisite Monique Lhuillier? Or that stunning Amsale? Well now you can and you don't have to spend the big bucks! Ever heard of the website Rent The Runway? Well now they're unveiling a new addition to their website where you and I can rent that designer wedding gown without having to pay tens of thousands of dollars.

While it may not be for everyone, I still think this is a great idea! If you're not the type to want to keep your wedding dress and don't really have anything to do with it after the wedding,  now you don't have to spend a lot on your dress for just one day!   Rent The Runaway, designer gowns rented at a reasonable price, and you can avoid letting an expensive wedding dress collect dust in your closet!

What are your thoughts on renting a designer wedding gown as opposed to buying your own? Personally, I don't think I would do it, I would want me own dress, but I think its a GREAT way to get your dream dress without paying designer prices.